Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-07
The Pipestone Pass Connection
With the n. P.
The Oregon Transcontinental
Line to Portland.
The Oregon Pacific Building
Eastward.
The Flathead Country to be
Tapped for Butte's Benefit

Though Butte has hitherto been Obliged
10 content herself with being the terminus
Of o short spur railroad, the day 10 not
far distant when she will be the grand cen.
trsl point in u vast system OF traDsconti.
mental and other trunk lines OF railroad.
not to speak Of network OF branches that
will lay tributary the surrounding mining
and agricultural regions. Butte has been
content to give Helena the distinction Of
bsin. the greatest Wholesale distributing
point in Montana, yet she may, ere long,
.mume that position, and when she does
,be will attract trade by legitimate meth.
ads, and not through such relics OF bar.
bsrism rs the commercial license tax, that
Gas long imposed for the sole object of
driving all Territorial trade to Helena. It
il now we'll understood hat the Northern
Pacific will .xtend It's Helena & Boulder
Valley branch to Butte, and those who
ought to know say that it
WILL BE IN OPERATION
TO this camp by the time the Montana Cen.
tral is completed, il not sooner, the work
o, its line between Calvin's and Butte be.
ing generally light. Before that branch is
we'll in operation. arrangements will be
made to complete the loop by building the
direct line from Pipestone Pass to Gallatin.
This road will be OF greater value to Butte
than any other OF the short lines in con.
templatiOn, as it will bring her nearer to
Eastern terminals than Helena now il,
shortening the distance IA compared with
oresent routes by about 126 miles. It will
omen short and direct communication with
all the best coal deposits yet discovered in
Montana, at Timberline. Trail Creek. Liv.
ipestou and Rocky Fork, and the conse.
oupnt reduction in the cost Of coal and coke
will be
WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
annually 10 the industries Of this camp.
This line will not stop in Butte. but it will
DO pushed to a connection with the main
line at some point father West, and will be.
come the main line itself. It is quite
natural to conclude that the through pas
sencer trains will be run on the shortest
and most direct line, where there is the
greatest passenger traffic, and Butte will,
Of course continue to furnish her best out.
lats with the heaviest passenger traffic, a.
sbe does in freights. In building this short
line the No thern Pacific will simply rectify
q grave mistake, that has cost it many
millions OF dollars, and entailed great loss
TO this camp. A few weeks ago HE MINER
referred to the TACT that the Oregon Trans
continental would devote it's newly &C
auired funds to the construction OF q
system Of branches, the most important Of
which was the branch from Lewiston on
Snake River. to Butte. This road would
rive Butte direct connection with Portland
making a ayiup of about 175 miles as COM
nared with present routes. and would oper
up q series OF
RrCH MINERAL DISTRICTS
between the Bitter Root River and Pierce
CITY. All those east Of the Idaho lint
would certainly become tributary to thi'
CITY, as we'll al the fertile valley OF tn
Bitter Root. Since Sidney Dillon has &C
cepted the presidency OF the Oregon Trans
continental, there is a better prospect o
the early construction OF this importan
line. lie il too well acquainted With tn
magnificent traffic furnished the roads D.
thie ca MP. to be behind in the race OF tn
roads to get here, and his hands will b.
strengthened by the business men OF Port
land, who are very anxious TO Tap W
mineral districts on the Clearwater I,
draw ores to feed the smelters at fortlano
It is very important to the people OF butt
that a railroad to the Bitter Root Va!le.
.hould he bn;lt as soon as possible. Tn
nroducts of the valley; the lumber an
ores of the Bitter Root range will be wante
here. Int there is more. The Bitter Roo
branch of the Northern Pacific will hardl
cross the mountains to the head OF Sa'nso
River before
will be heading for that point IRON Winn
mucca. on the Central Pacific. A glance q
amanwiIl show that this link will compiler
tho shortest and most direct route posslo
from San Francisco to Western NO,
Tam. This connection is ardsnt'
desired by the people OF San FRA
$500 and vnen the first Bitter Kna
Railro.d Company was formed IN 100
Tho Winnemucca branch was very soon y,
der consideration. Through the Ply
Root also, Butte will be connected WIN .
Oregon Pacific Railroad, o bullaine sa |;
ward through Oregon, to connecU III,
parent. the Chicago y Northwestern, ;t'
IL Fastening across Wyoming ~ se hror,
;S NM likely that the Central Pac'nc Dian'
from W;nnemucca will stop where u Gu
nscts with the Bitter Root Railroad: ouG
10 Ike,v tn cross into Montana by the .
Hole pass and make as straight asnoo.
ross;h,s tn Butte. II the Montana Cent.
/. not continued to the coast from "
point, it will at least
MAKE 4 LOOT.
.onneetipQ with the main line ~ee' o. '
Rockies, so that Butte will be Inc po'n'
.onveroence and divergence OF the Nor'ne
poci6c and Manitoba " Burlington ..
+ems Giving choice OF those two rouses
punst Sound AID the East; the Cent.
and Union Pacific roads as Cue H. -,
.tnnd hesidee the Central faclnc . WIZ -
mueca bra inch through Big Hole az o.
will nrobably terminate mere; y ,o.tIo
Extraordinarily direct ilne ~ ~ E
via the Lou Lou and C'esrSa a.e Psci
cago e. Northwestern anq Vlt rom bu
FaS,apd West. besides the great sys.:s
L"an.hss ~, iected by the Union facin.
bern and Western Montana. wn'e ot
he hasun in 1888 il Congress Toes poI
tbo hands o, the company. line MY.
pn.;so also will build a brancn up ~
ths F,s,head country, that VIII opeu
ra.t Communication between thab reg
and Rutte. which really occupies =
NOR. favorable position, geCsl" LIZ
thar is supposed by many o. ne uost ,
She lies midway between tIe WI MOI
duc,ive agricultural regions ~ I'm VAL
west-tLe Bitter Root ana oa''A''0
both OF which
PRODUCE 4 LARGE suRrhc'
Of staple crops; and she 10 i r'"th
located with reference to the 1.
Country. which will be 9 third 't'por y
source OF food supplies for western
tana mining camps. Butte j" also rno,
between the cokiug Goals east l'ne =,
and the forests OF the Bitter n
which will always supply, the grea'S ;s
nort;on ~ Tho timber used neEe' -.